BRAZIL ROAD-KILL: a dataset of wildlife terrestrial vertebrate road-kills

Mortality from collision with vehicles is the most visible impact of road traffic on wildlife. Mortality due to roads (hereafter road-kill) can affect the dynamic of populations of many species and can, therefore, increase the risk of local decline or extinction. This is especially true in Brazil, where plans for road network upgrading and expansion overlaps biodiversity hotspot areas, which are of high importance for global conservation. Researchers, conservationists and road planners face the challenge to define a national strategy for road mitigation and wildlife conservation. The main goal of this dataset is a compilation of geo-referenced road-kill data from published and unpublished road surveys. This is the first Data Paper in the BRAZIL series (see ATLANTIC, NEOTROPICAL, and BRAZIL collections of Data Papers published in Ecology), which aims make public road-kill data for species in the Brazilian Regions. The dataset encompasses road-kill records from 45 personal communications and 26 studies published in peer-reviewed journals, theses and reports. The road-kill dataset comprises 21,512 records, 83% of which are identified to the species level (n = 450 species). The dataset includes records of 31 amphibian species, 90 reptile species, 229 bird species, and 99 mammal species. One species is classified as Endangered, eight as Vulnerable and twelve as Near Threatened. The species with the highest number of records are: Didelphis albiventris (n = 1,549), Volatinia jacarina (n = 1,238), Cerdocyon thous (n = 1,135), Helicops infrataeniatus (n = 802), and Rhinella icterica (n = 692). Most of the records came from southern Brazil. However, observations of the road-kill incidence for non-Least Concern species are more spread across the country. This dataset can be used to identify which taxa seems to be vulnerable to traffic, analyze temporal and spatial patterns of road-kill at local, regional and national scales and also used to understand the effects of road-kill on population persistence. It may also contribute to studies that aims to understand the influence of landscape and environmental influences on road-kills, improve our knowledge on road-related strategies on biodiversity conservation and be used as complementary information on large-scale and macroecological studies. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set other than citation of this Data Paper

Genetic diversity of vetor-borne agents in coatis (Nasua nasua) in a periurban region of central-western Brazil

- Quatis (Nasua nasua) são procionídeos amplamente distribuídos na América do Sul que se adaptam facilmente a ambientes antropizados, vivendo em contato próximo com animais domésticos e humanos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a diversidade de ectoparasitas e a ocorrência de agentes transmitidos por vetores (Anaplasmataceae, Mycoplasmataceae, Bartonellaceae, Rickettsiaceae Babesiidae/Theileriidae, Hepatozoidae e Onchocercidae) em quatis e/ou ectoparasitas amostrados em duas áreas urbanas de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Entre 2018 e 2019, dos 97 quatis capturados/recapturados foram coletados 2.242 carrapatos (838 larvas de Amblyomma, com maior infestação em janeiro, abril e maio; 1241 ninfas de Amblyomma sculptum e 150 ninfas de Amblyomma dubitatum, com maior infestação em julho, agosto, outubro e novembro; 13 adultos, dentre três machos e cinco fêmeas de A. sculptum; e dois machos e três fêmeas de Amblyomma ovale). Cinquenta e nove piolhos [Neotrichodectes (Nasuicolla) pallidus] foram coletados de 25,7% quatis, representando um novo registro da espécie no centro-oeste do Brasil, com a primeira contribuição morfológica dos estágios de ninfa e ovos e caracterização molecular utilizando os genes 18S rRNA e cox1. Dos 97 quatis amostrados, 77% mostraram-se positivos para Hepatozoon procyonis (gene 18S rRNA); 15,1% para Ehrlichia sp. (gene dsb); 3,6% para Anaplasma sp. (gene 16S rRNA); 89,6% para hemoplasmas (gene 16S rRNA) e 3,6% para Neorickettsia sp. Nenhuma amostra de sangue foi positiva para Bartonella spp. em cultura ou na qPCR e piroplasmídeos na nPCR (nested PCR). Ao analisar os esfregaços sanguíneos e capa leucocitária, 33% e 80%, respectivamente, das amostras apresentaram pelo menos uma microfilária de Mansonella sp. (molecularmente caracterizada com base nos genes cox1, myoHC and hsp70). Hepatozoon procyonis foi detectado em alta prevalência em quatis do centro-oeste do Brasil, com parasitemia flutuando entre as recapturas e aparentemente sem influência nos parâmetros hematológicos e clínicos dos quatis parasitados. Análises filogenéticas baseadas no gene 16S rRNA e ITS posicionaram as sequências de Anaplasma sp. detectadas no presente estudo em um grande clado com outras sequências Anaplasma spp. previamente detectadas em carrapatos e animais silvestres e em um clado com ‘Candidatus Anaplasma brasiliensis’, respectivamente. Com base em seis marcadores moleculares distintos, o presente trabalho descreveu um novo agente Anaplasmataceae, nomeado ‘Candidatus Ehrlichia dumleri’. A filogenia baseada nos genes 16S rRNA e 23S rRNA e qPCR baseado no gene 16S rRNA indicaram a presença de dois genótipos de hemoplasmas em quatis. A estimativa da carga bacteriana de hemoplasmas não mostrou associação com indicadores hematológicos de anemia. Embora as amostras positivas do presente estudo tenham apresentado >99% de identidade com Neorickettsia risticii disponível no GenBank, a real identidade da bactéria detectada em quatis deve ser melhor investigada por meio de isolamento e sequenciamento do genoma completo. O presente estudo mostrou uma alta prevalência de Mansonella sp., sugerindo que quatis podem atuar como hospedeiros de uma nova espécie de Mansonella sp. ainda não descrita dentro da família Onchocercidae. Em relação aos carrapatos, 25,4% das amostras de DNA de carrapatos foram positivas para H. procyonis, 10% para ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haematonasua', 1,6% para Bartonella spp., 2% para piroplasmídeos [sendo duas sequências diferentes, uma com identidade para Babesia sp. previamente detectada em capivaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), e outra com identidade para Babesia sp., detectado em gambás (Didelphis albiventris) e carrapatos associados A. dubitatum] e 0,8% para Rickettsia spp. (do Grupo Febre Maculosa [GFM] e Rickettsia belli). Nenhum piolho mostrou-se positivo para os agentes acima mencionados. Carnívoros são considerados importante fonte de infecções humanas com agentes zoonóticos transmitidos por vetores. A detecção de Rickettsia sp. de SFG destaca a importância de estudos de vigilância em fragmentos florestais urbanos. A detecção de piroplasmas em carrapatos de animais negativos pode indicar a importância de Amblyomma spp. na transmissão transovariana/transestadial de Babesia spp. em animais silvestres.Coatis (Nasua nasua) are procyonids widely distributed in South America that easily adapt to anthropized environments, living in close contact with domestic animals and humans. The present study aimed to investigate the diversity of ectoparasites and the occurrence of vectorborne agents (Anaplasmataceae, Mycoplasmataceae, Bartonellaceae, Rickettsiaceae Babesiidae/Theileriidae, Hepatozoidae and Onchocercidae) in coatis and/or ectoparasites sampled in two urban areas of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Between 2018 and 2019, 2,242 ticks were collected from 97 coatis captured/recaptured (838 Amblyomma larvae, with higher infestation in January, April and May; 1,241 Amblyomma sculptum nymphs and 150 Amblyomma dubitatum nymphs, with higher infestation in July, August, October and November; 13 adults, among three males and five females of A. sculptum; and two males and three females of Amblyomma ovale). Fifty-nine lice [Neotrichodectes (Nasuicolla) pallidus] were collected from 25.7% coatis, representing a new record of the species in central-western Brazil, with the first morphological contribution to nymph and egg as well as molecular characterization based on the 18S rRNA and cox1 genes. Out of 97 coatis sampled, 77% were positive for Hepatozoon procyonis (18S rRNA gene), 15.1% for Ehrlichia sp. (dsb gene), 3.6% for Anaplasma sp. (16S rRNA gene), 89.6% for hemoplasmas (16S rRNA gene), and 3.6% for Neorickettsia sp. No coati blood sample was positive for Bartonella spp. in culture or qPCR and piroplasmids in nPCR (nested PCR). When analyzing the coati blood smears and buffy coats, 33% and 80%, respectively, samples showed at least one microfilaria of Mansonella sp. (molecularly characterized based on the cox1, myoHC and hsp70 genes). Hepatozoon procyonis circulates with high prevalence in coatis in central-west Brazil, with parasitemia fluctuating between recaptures and apparently without influence on the hematological and clinical parameters of the parasitized coatis. Phylogenetic analyzes based on the 16S rRNA gene and ITS positioned the Anaplasma sp. detected in the present study in a large clade with other Anaplasma spp. previously detected in ticks and wild animals and in a clade with 'Candidatus Anaplasma brasiliensis', respectively. Based on six distinct molecular markers, the present work described a new Anaplasmataceae agent, named 'Candidatus Ehrlichia dumleri'. Phylogeny based on 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes and qPCR based on 16S rRNA gene indicated the presence of two genotypes of hemoplasmas in coatis. Estimation of the bacterial load of hemoplasmas showed no association with hematological indicators of anemia. Although the positive samples in the present study showed >99% identity with Neorickettsia risticii available in GenBank, the real identity of the bacteria detected in coatis should be better investigated through isolation and Whole Genome Sequencing. The present study showed a high prevalence of Mansonella sp., suggesting that coatis may act as reservoirs for a new species of Mansonella sp. yet to be described. Regarding ticks, 25.4% of tick DNA samples were positive for H. procyonis, 10% for 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematonasua', 1.6% for Bartonella spp., 2% for piroplasmids [among two different sequences: one with identity for Babesia sp. previously detected in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), and another one showing for Babesia sp. previously detected in opossums (Didelphis albiventris) and associated A. dubitatum ticks] and 0.8% for Rickettsia spp. (from the Spotted Fever Group [SFG] and Rickettsia bellii). No louse was positive for the above mentioned agents. Carnivores are considered an important source of human infections with vector-borne zoonotic agents. The detection of SFG Rickettsia sp. highlights the importance of surveillance studies in urban forest fragments. The detection of piroplasmids in ticks collected from negative animals may indicate the importance of Amblyomma spp. in transovarian/transstadial transmission of Babesia spp. in wild animals.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)2019/15150-4140491/2019-

Zoonotic dirofilariases: one, no one, or more than one parasite.

[EN]Dirofilaria spp. are vector-borne filarial nematodes that affect a variety of animal species, including humans. Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are the two main zoonotic species, but also other wildlife-associated Dirofilaria species are occasionally reported as causative agents of human dirofilariasis, including Dirofilaria striata, Dirofilaria tenuis, Dirofilaria ursi, Dirofilaria spectans, and Dirofilaria magnilarvata. Since the etiological identity of most of the species mentioned here is arguable, we summarized and critically discussed data concerning infections in humans, focusing on the reliability of Dirofilaria species identification. We advocate the importance of combined morphological and genomic approaches to provide unequivocal evidence for their zoonotic potential and pathogenicity

First isolation of Trichophyton benhamiae complex from a domestic cat in Italy

Trichophyton benhamiae complex is a zoophilic dermatophyte recognized as a causative agent of dermatophytosis, infecting mainly guinea pigs, but also other animal species, including humans. As cases in cats are scant and poorly described, this study aims to report and discuss the clinical presentation, diagnostic process, and treatment of this dermatophyte, herein firstly diagnosed in a cat from Italy. The cat was successfully treated with the administration of oral itraconazole.This report highlights the importance of considering T. benhamiae complex in feline dermatophytosis and emphasizes accurate diagnosis to prevent zoonotic transmission

Zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. “hongkongensis” in subcutaneous nodules from dogs and cats, Hong Kong SAR

Abstract Background Dirofilaria sp. “hongkongensis” is a putative Dirofilaria species, initially identified in subcutaneous nodules in humans in Hong Kong and in other South and Southeast Asian regions. While it differs genetically from the better-known zoonotic species, Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis, information on the lesions caused by Dirofilaria sp. “hongkongensis” in the hosts as well as on its biology is scarce. This study documents for the first time the presence of this filarioid nematode in subcutaneous nodules in dogs and cats in Hong Kong, where it was originally described in human patients, therefore providing evidence for the zoonotic nature of this parasite. Methods Records of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory of City University of Hong Kong were searched between 2019 and 2024 for histological reports of possible filarioid-associated lesions. Tissue samples were collected by excisional surgical biopsy and processed with routine paraffin techniques. Selected slides were stained using various staining techniques [i.e., hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid–Schiff (PAS), Grocott methenamine silver (GMS) or Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) and Gram stain]. DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue were extracted, submitted to conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and sequencing (i.e., cox1 and 12S rRNA genes) and phylogenetic analyzed. Results A total of five subcutaneous nodules from four cats and one from a dog with histopathology suggestive of filariosis were selected. The presence of Dirofilaria sp. “hongkongensis” was morphologically and molecularly confirmed in one dog and one cat. Both histopathological presentation and phylogenetic analysis enabled classification of this species close to D. repens and within the subgenus Nochtiella. In the remaining three cases, one showed histological evidence of aberrant nematode migration, while non-parasitic causes were identified in the other two. Conclusions This study provides the first evidence of Dirofilaria sp. “hongkongensis” in subcutaneous nodules in cats and dogs. The histology of clinical lesions of this filarioid species herein described is closely related to those caused by D. repens. Overall, this species should be considered in differential diagnoses of subcutaneous lesions in both animals and humans in the region. Graphical Abstrac

Host–parasite relationship in urban environments: A network analysis of haemoparasite infections in Nasua nasua Linnaeus (South American coati)

Parasite relationships are influenced by host size, behaviour, population density and location and can affect the ecological dynamics of their hosts. Urban environments provide new contexts for host–parasite interactions, often leading to changes in infection dynamics when compared with the natural environment. This study focuses on the relationship between five genera of haemoparasites (Anaplasma Theiler, Ehrlichia Moshkovski, Hepatozoon Miller, haemotropic Mycoplasma Nowak and Neorickettsia Philip) found in the South American coati Nasua nasua Linnaeus (Carnivora: Procyonidae), a carnivore highly adaptable to urban areas. Here, we used network analysis to verify the interaction between N. nasua and haemoparasites. We also used a General Linear Model to investigate the influence of biotic and abiotic variables and haemoparasite infections on the functional roles of N. nasua individuals, considering weight, age, sex and tick infestation (number of immature ticks collected). The network revealed low modularity, and none of the biotic variables, immature stages of ticks and location of sampling had any influence on the functional role of N. nasua. The most important haemoparasite in the network was haemotropic Mycoplasma, identified as a key non-hub connector, probably spreading efficiently through frequent agonistic social interactions from N. nasua. These findings underscore the complex interplay between host behaviour, environmental factors and parasite ecology in urban environments, offering insights into managing urban wildlife diseases.Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB)Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia State University of Rio de JaneiroPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB)Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL) Departamento de Patologia Reprodução e Saúde Única da Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL) Departamento de Patologia Reprodução e Saúde Única da Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP

A 50-year-old redescription: molecular and morphometric characterization of Hepatozoon carinicauda Pessoa and Cavalheiro, 1969 in the brown-banded water snake Helicops angulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The combined use of molecular and microscopic techniques has become an increasingly common and efficient practice for the taxonomic and evolutionary understanding of single-celled parasites such as haemogregarines. Based on this integrative approach, we characterized Hepatozoon found in Helicops angulatus snakes from the Eastern Amazonia, Brazil. The gamonts observed caused cell hypertrophy and were extremely elongated and, in some cases, piriform (mean dimensions: 25.3 +/- 1.9 x 8.6 +/- 1.3 mu m). These morphological features correspond to Hepatozoon carinicauda, described 50 years ago in the snake Helicops carinicaudus in the southeast region of Brazil. Phylogenetic and genetic divergence analyses, performed with the sequence obtained from the amplification of a 590 bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene, revealed that Hepatozoon in He. angulatus differed from the other lineages retrieved from GenBank, and was clustered singly in both the phylogenetic tree and the haplotype network. The integration of these data allowed the identification of H. carinicauda in a new aquatic host, and increased the knowledge of its geographical distribution. Therefore, the present study included the first redescription of a Hepatozoon species in a snake from the Brazilian Amazon.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed Amapa UNIFAP, Programa Posgrad Biodiversidade Trop, Macapa, AP, BrazilUniv Fed Amapa, Lab Estudos Morfofisiol & Parasitarios, Dept Ciencias Biol & Saude, Macapa, AP, BrazilFundacao Oswaldo Cruz Fiocruz Rondonia, Porto Velho, RO, BrazilUniv Fed Rondonia, Programa Posgrad Biol Expt, Porto Velho, RO, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista FCAV UNESP, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, Dept Patoi Reprod & Saude Unica, Lab Imunoparasitol, Jaboticabal, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista FCAV UNESP, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, Dept Patoi Reprod & Saude Unica, Lab Imunoparasitol, Jaboticabal, SP, BrazilCAPES: 001CNPq: 429.132/2016-

Microfilaruria of Dirofilaria immitis in a dog from Italy

: Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne nematode-causing canine heartworm disease, with adult worms localized in the pulmonary arteries and right heart. In rare cases, ectopic migration might occur, and adults and blood circulating microfilariae can be found in unusual organs or fluids (e.g., eyes, abdominal cavity, bone marrow, and urine). A 17-year-old mixed-breed female dog was presented in a private veterinary clinic in Italy for hematuria and dysuria. Physical examination showed cardiac mitral murmur with marked respiratory distress and cyanotic mucous membranes after handling. Abdominal ultrasounds revealed a non-specific chronic cystopathy, while the echocardiography showed enlargement of the right heart associated with tricuspid insufficiency and mitral regurgitation, with the presence of an adult filariae in the right ventricular chamber. Circulating microfilariae were observed in the blood smear and molecularly identified as D. immitis. Unusual microfilaruria was detected in the urine sediment. Data presented raise awareness about the occurrence of microfilariae in unusual locations, such as the bladder, suggesting the need of a thorough clinical and laboratory assessment where D. immitis is endemic

Genetic diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in rodents from Chile

This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in rodents from Valdivia, Chile. A total of 74 rodents (synanthropic n=38; wild n=36) were trapped in Valdivia. We performed conventional PCR assays for Apicomplexa organisms targeting two overlapping 18S rDNA gene fragments (600 bp and 900 bp) followed by sequencing of selected amplicons. Hepatozoon spp. occurrence was 82.43% (61/74). Twelve sequences obtained from the 600 bp and ten from the 900 bp 18S rDNA fragments were identified as Hepatozoon sp. Six sequences obtained from 18S rDNA-based overlapping PCR protocols were used for concatenated (1,400 bp) phylogenetic, haplotype and distance analyses. Hepatozoon spp. 18S rDNA concatenated sequences from the present study were detected in Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, and Abrothrix longipilis grouped with Hepatozoon species earlier described in rodents and reptiles from Chile and Brazil. Nucleotide polymorphism of the six 18S rDNA sequences (1,400 bp) from this study, and other Chilean sequences from rodents and rodent’s ticks, showed high diversity with a total of nine Chilean haplotypes. Three haplotypes from Valdivia were identified for the first time in this study, suggesting the circulation of novel haplotypes in rodents from southern Chile